Well here is a first.....I have never "blogged" before so just a small introduction.
My name is Julia. I joined KAS towards the end of 2009 after looking for a cause to support on the Internet. I am 52 years old and have knitted since I was about 8 years old. My first project was a "Sooty" hand puppet in Junior school....bright yellow wool and black stitched features. Over the years I have "inflicted" my Aran, Nordic and Shetland jumpers on my friends and family for presents so having filled all their drawers ! I began to knit display garments for a large wool shop in my spare time. I have not knitted for a number of years but now having lost my last two companion Labrador dogs I find I have spare time around my work commitments so I have started knitting again.
I was very lucky to go to South Africa last year. I fell in love with the country and its warm friendly people. I am going back later this year to see some places I missed last time and revisit some favourite ones. I also want to look at voluntary work as my work in England is seasonal I can spare time to work in South Africa over our winter months.
I really enjoy making things for the KAS children, I kiss every blanket and jumper that I send as I seal the packages I hope it will give the child who receives it warmth and comfort. I find the KAS photo section an inspiration with all of the garments and creative squares that members send and I love the support you get from members around the World. I admire Sandy for having the vision to set this site up and it had been wonderful to watch the numbers of contributors grow each month. I am sure that my friends and family are also very pleased I have found an outlet for my knitting....no more jumpers !!!
Some of you will know I met with Diane and Jeni on 19th August 2010 in Edinburgh primarily to see the "Soweto Gospel Choir". All three of us laughed as we do not have our photographs on our pages.....some were taken....so with official permission from the girls they will appear here when I do my "official blog" of the event......watch this space !
Replies
Wishing you all good things on your new path Julia. It is wonderful when you find your "place" where you feel you can do the most good and can see the direct results of your actions.Lovely to have "met" you and to have read your blog.
Thanks for the uplifting update Julia :) I also love the idea of numbering the stairs and re-painting the hopscotch area. All the best and enjoy the rest of your stay.
I have arrived back in the UK. We have told the children I have gone on holiday to England as they were getting a little upset that I was going away and not coming back. I am so pleased with things that have been achieved on this visit. The children have worked so hard and have made such wonderful progress. The head of the lower school has a teaching programme for me.....hopefully I will be there for a few years to come God willing. I know how Sandy must have felt when she set up KAS to help the children by providing blankets for them. When you see first hand how these children live and that they have nothing you cannot help but be moved to do something to raise the quality of their lives.I have plans to raise money and support for the school and I only have so much spare time to do it as I do have to work when I am in the UK. I am therefore leaving the KAS family as there is only so much I can do and I have found my own place to make a difference. It has lovely to "know" you all but my knitting needles and crochet hooks have to new path to travel. Good luck everyone and keep creating the wonderful things you do.
Hi Julia, I am so glad that you can make such a difference. Why don't you talk to Sandy & Co if some of the blankets can't maybe be diverted to Cape Town?
We wil MISS you!!! But what a wonderful way to make a difference. Will you be able to drop in occasionally with news? All the best wishes for your teaching career and best of luck with your future endeavours to support the school !
Love Susan
As ever, Julia, a wonderful, informative and interesting blog. Your are truly adding value to the school days of these children. Love the idea of stair numbers so the children count as ascend and descend the stairs - brilliantly simple, but likely to be very effective, and fun!
I agree Pam !
Oh Julia wonderful to have the news and what a difference you are making.
Julia, pleased you are feeling better. Hopefully you are building up an immunity to this virus....for next time.
The trips to the Museum and Art Gallery will be wonderful and enriching for the children. Just the experience of travelling to and from will be exciting ( for the supervisor as well ). Broadening the experiences of Mihle and others who show a talent may cultivate a realization that they can do more.
Such a sweet Valentine's story. Glad it had a happy ending for everyone.
Things are still as busy at school. A friend of mine arrived from England on Sunday for a holiday and was able to bring me some more books in her luggage. The school had been given a copy of a Julia Donaldson book and CD a couple of years ago so they now have seven new stories and CD's and through Kalahari.net here I have been able to order another 5 different stores so they now have a wonderful choice to use for the three first year classes.
To help with the children learn their numbers we are looking at painting numbers on the stairs so they can count them going up and down and painting the old hopscotch game on the playground. I have been to see someone about getting the paint for the project so fingers crossed it will come to the school. I feel like I live here now and the more I get involved the more I do not want to go back to the UK. When people ask me what I do I say I live in South Africa and work in the UK which is right as this is certainly a place to live.. I can see me being here for 6 months of the year !
The children I have been working with are coming on so well now. Part of me is happy at what has been achieved and part of me is sad that I have just over two weeks left to continue the development with them. They are already talking about my work programme for when I come back so it is nice to be wanted.
This morning we held an open air service for the first three years all together. I have to admit to wipping away the tears as they all sang together just under 400 children all sat on the ground between the two buildings of the school. The sun shone and their voices filled the air it must have been heard for some distance.
I have managed to do a batch of crocheted squares which I will put in the post next week. It is so nice to be able to post a parcel and be told it will be in J'Burg in two days....makes a change from 6-7 weeks Surface Mail from England.
-
1
-
2
-
3
-
4
-
5
of 24 Next